Big Picture: Museum Design in Japan

Japanese museums have perfected the art of conceptually designing the experience of visiting their spaces: by incorporating materials historically linked to the location of the museum or the exhibits on display; by curating tangible interactions with the objects usually locked behind glass panes; or simply by presenting views on the surrounding nature as they would on the artworks inside. From the flow of visitors to the colors, dimensions, and themes chosen for exhibition spaces, the way that museums are designed has a crucial impact on their visitors’ experience.

Why are there so many (private) museums in Japan? Where does the desire for a strong visual identity way beyond the more common white cube come from? Where do the needs and aesthetics of Swiss and Japanese audiences differ? And how can museums serve as gateways into a culture?

Art historian and author of The Art Lover’s Guide to Japanese Museums, Sophie Richard, has talked to many curators and museum directors in Japan. In conversation with architect Yuichi Kodai  – who designed the museum on the book’s cover – and moderator Aurelia Rauch, she will talk about what she has learnt in her research and how it translates beyond the realms of mere aesthetics.

The event will be followed by an apéro, where you will also have the chance to get a hand-signed copy of The Art Lover's Guide to Japanese Museums.

About the Speakers

Sophie Richard worked in the art world in New York before moving to London where she is now based. She has been traveling to Japan for the past 16 years. Her first book on museums in Japan was published in 2014 and was translated into Japanese in 2016. Her articles have appeared in magazines in the USA, the UK, and Japan. She has been a regular contributor to Japanese television programs about the country’s museums, and in 2018 and 2019 her work was the basis for two television series on the subject. Sophie has been pursuing her research on art museums in Japan and her second book, The art lovers’ guide to Japanese museums, was published in 2019. In parallel, she creates and leads bespoke art tours to Japan. She also advises on the promotion of Japanese arts and culture towards a Western audience. In December 2015, her work was recognized by the Agency of Cultural Affairs in Japan and she received the Commissioner's Award.

Yuichi Kodai is director and architect at kodai and associates. The practice focuses to create architectural spaces through a Japanese mindset working with Asian and Western cultures. He graduated from Architectural Association in London and worked for the Swiss architectural practice Herzog & de Meuron, where he worked on high-profile international projects, notably, Perez Art Museum Miami, and TATE Modern. He then founded the architecture department in the art studio of SANDWICH Inc. in Kyoto. Yuichi completed the award-winning building, KOHTEI, in Fukuyama City, Hiroshima, in 2017. He also worked at HILDEBRAND Studios where he acknowledged Swiss building and crafting culture, and has been an assistant professor at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). 

Aurelia Rauch received her Magistra Artium in Art History at the University of Münster in 2010, after her training in museum education at the Kunsthalle Bielefeld and the Kunstmuseum Pablo Picasso Münster. Until 2018, she lived and worked in New York City and played an important role in New York's vibrant contemporary art scene, alongside her work in commercial and non-profit art organizations. Most recently she worked as Creative Director at Sperone Westwater on projects with artists such as Bruce Nauman, Susan Rothenberg, Richard Long, Tom Sachs and Ali Banisadr. Since 2018, Aurelia has been the Head of Communications at Bergos, and Senior Consultant, Bergos Art Consult. Bergos is a Corporate Partner of Asia Society Switzerland.

About Big Picture

Big Picture is a quarter-annual, public event series where we celebrate art in all its forms and shapes: Be it food, movies, museums, or literature. We invite artists, curators, and experts to talk about their practices and how these can help shed light on the world we live in. These talks are designed to further the dialogue and exchange across disciplines and regions and to travel beyond the events.

Big Picture is made possible with the support of Bergos.

The event series is hosted in cooperation with Karl der Grosse.

Event Picture: © SANDWICH Inc. Photo: Nobutada Omote